By CASEY NEILL
COUNCILLOR Maria Sampey has called for a legal second opinion on CEO John Bennie’s new contract.
She last night (Monday) failed in her bid to put the reappointment on hold so Maurice Blackburn could review the agreement, which the council’s solicitor Maddocks has already approved.
“I feel that there’s bias,” Cr Sampey said.
“This whole appointment has not really gone according to process.
“I can’t see that there would be a problem of getting a second opinion.
“People get second opinions all the time.”
Councillors earlier this month agreed to keep Mr Bennie on when his current contract expired in October and contract negotiations proceeded.
Cr Peter Brown said the Inspectorate of Local Government had reviewed and was satisfied with the reappointment process to date.
But he said Maddocks both drew up the contract and reviewed it, so he supported a second opinion “an arm’s length from council”.
“It’s a bit like chicken soup – I don’t think it will do any harm,” he said.
Cr Chea was blunt about Cr Sampey’s call.
“If we don’t believe him, we need to sack him,” he said of the Maddocks solicitor.
Cr John Kelly said the majority of councillors supported reappointing Mr Bennie.
“We seem to be dragging it out,” he said.
“I’ve never faced such a long, wound-out decision to support a CEO.”
Cr Sampey’s motion was defeated seven votes to three.
A Maddocks spokesman said the firm did not offer comment on any individual matters or clients.
